'Elite' scientists to beat migrant cap

A new immigration status could allow the brightest and best scientists to enter Britain ahead of other migrants, after calls for more exemptions

A letter to The Times called for immigration exemptions to include scientists (Rela News)
Top foreign scientists and promising young researchers could be given elite
immigration status, alongside Premier League footballers and athletes, so
they can still enter Britain despite immigration cutbacks.

The government is to ask organisations such as Universities UK and learned
bodies such as the Royal Society to help to rate scientists and engineers by
their qualifications and research record.

The concession follows complaints from Nobel prizewinners, universities and
medical research groups about immigration quotas introduced in July. Special
rights were given to sportsmen and priests, but not to scientists.

Elite sportsmen and their coaches can win extra consideration for a visa on
the grounds of sporting achievements if their applications are endorsed by
governing bodies such as the Football Association. The concession would
fast-track applications from eminent professors or promising researchers.

The immigration cap already stops researchers recruiting the best scientists
and this will worsen when a permanent cap comes